How honorable is this?

Aware as you might and should be, honor killings are the latest flavor of the season in this part of the world...that too, in a country that aims to be known as a developed nation, a progressive society and is the world's largest democracy (it's another matter that given the way we as a people have been behaving, we have no right to call ourselves a democracy at all, in the first place - checkout the 5th meaning in the link defining a democracy).

A spate of honor killings are being reported and who knows, there could be many which we might not even be aware of. The fact that one wants to pen one's anguish, disappointment and frustration at the violation of such a basic right, the fact that one needs to appeal against such practices, is in itself shameful. What next? Do we now tell/instruct/command/request people to not go about shooting people as per their whims and fancies?! (though unfortunately, even here, road rage is also a reality, no fiction).
I mean what state have we come to? It's nothing but a shame.

Coming to the point of honor killings, whose honor is it anyway? And what the is honorable about what you do by torturing, maiming and killing a couple? How regressive can we keep getting? To say this is unpardonable is an understatement. The bigger issue is how we deal with the perpetrators of such crimes. We must amend our laws and practices to ensure the strictest punishment is reserved for such criminals who, in the name of familial honor, unleash their wantonly and inhuman streak on innocent, adult individuals.

Maybe I will read about such reports, feel sick and disgusted, and then go to a Sports page, get busy with my activities through the day and conveniently forget about this. But this is why I wanted to write this post, so that I read it sometime again, to remind myself of such horrible and dastardly malpractices. To ensure that out of sight does not become out of mind, and that I always stand up against such horrible practices and policies that lull some particularly dumb people to think it's legit to go on killing others (heck, even their own kin) and all this, in the name of protecting family honor!

But as an individual, wonder what I can do to stop this once and for all. Maybe nothing. But I'd like to ensure that whenever I hear of such atrocities, that too in the name of any ostensible moral high-ground or familial honor crap, I put my foot down and stand up for what's fair, just and deserves to be voiced, instead of being a silent spectator or just a passive tsk-tsk for the victims.

The next time you come across any form of injustice, please try putting your voice for such people who deserve to be given a voice, and against those who simply need to shut up and pack up. We get the world we make and deserve. High time we made the right choices and took a stand.
RIP, departed loving souls.

Converting MKV Files - What an idea sirjee!

Just thought of sharing the link to a new software and site - (http://www.convertmkv.net, http://www.mkvavi.com).
This software allows you to do what even a generally workable VLC player cannot - is able to convert and play the bulky .MKV files that get stuck while being played in VLC.
Do check out the app - very much worth a dekko!

And the Black & Blue Bravery Award goes to...

...the Indian cricket fan! For being irrationally, unflinchingly brave and hopeful in loving his team and his cricketers, despite being beaten black and blue!

Yes, while the Red & White Bravery Awards are meant for displaying mental, social and physical fortitude and valor in life, I have coined a new set of Awards - the Black and Blue Awards!

Generally, one thinks of a reason/occasion to institute an award, does so, and then selects and awards the deserving. However, in the case of the Black & Blue, it's precisely the other way round. I have got the idea of the award only after having seen, witnessed and felt the plight of the awardee and then thought/conceptualised this award with the intent of recognising the awardee - the Indian Cricket Fan.

Yes, the Indian Cricket fan, who hopes for everything nice for Indian cricket (both inside and outside the field), yet gets beaten - black and blue (hence the name for the awards) - both inside and outside the field. Despite all that, time and time again, sticks his neck (and tongue and each lung) out to root for Indian cricket.
To an always practical, heartless mind, such behavior and irrational fixation might seem twice as foolish as it is brave, but make no mistake - it is brave nevertheless!

As if crashing out of an ICC event for the umpteenth time was not bad enough, the Indian cricket fan now has to also contend with speculative journalism - only causes needless anxiety. It's the last thing you want to experience after witnessing a string of disappointing losses.

And can someone explain to me who, in the holy name of Mpumelelo Mbangwa, gets and/or quotes these "sources". Yup, the same "sources" and "insiders", who provide easy fodder to speculative, trashy journalism even by the better-known publications in business.

Only to issue a self-correction and clarification from the horse's mouth this time, about the planted story a day or two later, except the small fact that in the meantime, speculation's gained ground among all quarters quicker than a Shaun Tait delivery.

The sad part is that this is not a one-off. We have often seen such baseless stories being planted, only to then be denied later.

Yes, I have no hesitation in calling such stories entirely planted - doesn't an editor of the nation's biggest publication owe it to his readers that they get informed, responsible news instead of being the unwilling audience for speculative, irresponsible journalism. (Though I agree, there are quite a few in our midst who would not be so unwilling to lap up rumours and fuel a fire that would never have been ignited in the first place).

Hasn't our journalism also fallen prey to the tabloid cult of sensation-selling (you can sell only when you have one and if you can't have one, create one) culture?

Now, who exactly are these sources and insiders in the first place? Even if one assumes they exist and did actually say anything to that effect, isn't it the responsbility of the publication to ensure that before making it a news item, the official version is taken into account from the actual decision-makers and the power-that-be?
Yes it is done - the official spokespersons do get to air their views - only, it is a couple of days later, in reaction to the 'insider' story.

When the same thing is done two days later after putting out the story, why can't we check first up before publishing any such stuff?
If this does not smack of planted stuff, I don't know what else does for you, or ever will.
Yes, a publication ain't a charity, it is a business, it has its readerships to cater to and increase, but at this cost? At any cost?

Amidst all this, the poor Indian cricket fan is subjected to additional, needless turmoil and anxiety. It is anyway difficult hoping against still lesser hope after watching one insipid display after another.

Nevertheless, the Indian cricket fan toils on, braves on, with the wish to see Indian cricket doing well, not only in its performance, but also in its conduct and administration.

As a related note though, I don't think we should get too knee-jerk in our reactions - MSD is still the best man for the job - a couple of tactical errors can be corrected, such as choice of playing eleven (even the squad at times - Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the likes of Irfan Pathan, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha - baffling!). Besides, what irks me is his propensity to bat at 3 or higher up the order (only) when the going's good.
All such disappointments surely call for a closed-door one-on-one chat and analysis, but it surely does not deem an axe, especially when he hasn't done much else wrong.
No, an Axe-effect ain't pleasant always.

What does need an axe is the useless, rumour-mongering and groupism/lobbying that speculative stories generate. Pronto.
And hope the Indian cricket fan, doesn't need to be a brave man to love and follow Indian cricket.

IPL: Sabse Bada Racket: Aapne kuch khareeda kya?

No? Too bad, so you are also among the losers who don't get to enjoy a slice of the pie!

It's a racket bigger than the proverbial IPL ticket...it's a murky world behind the stadium's happenings (and who knows, perhaps also influencing the stadium's happenings).
We have only just uncovered the topmost layer of the beneficiaries and the skeletons have come tumbling out. The big news, though, is still not about who has been named, but who all are yet to be named. Indeed, there are far too many vested interests on play. And as is often the case, the robbers are themselves the judges who are empowered to pronounce the verdict on their case.

From the head-honcho of the BCCI to a high-profile cabinet minister to the commissioner of the IPL itself - we've only just got started.

Highly recommend reading this wonderful, insightful article by Prem on his blog, reflecting on the under-currents running below the stream of controversies and suspicions.
As you'd realise, this is only the beginning. We're just getting started and at the time of writing, speculation is rife with the possibility of Lalit Modi being asked to quit.

I, for one, would like to know how we, as a public, react.
Do we stay immune to this and let it pass, since the culture of corruption and scandals is not second nature to us?

Or, should we ensure that as a cricketing public, we get to the bottom of things and ensure that all those who sully the good name of cricket for their vested interests are brought to book?
Shouldn't we ensure that those who are only interested in running this great game like a business and churning money for themselves are reined in?

Eventually, who knows, they might still get away. Far too many important people are involved and in power to endanger themselves, holy name of cricket and poor ol' justice be damned.
Pessimistic outlook yes, but unfortunately, I won't be surprised if nothing substantial comes out and the big fish again happen to go scot-free.

Sau mein se ninyaanve beimaan..par bus yun hi kehte rehte hain mera Bharat Mahaan...Mera Bharat Mahaan hai, aur rahega...but we must ensure that the guilty are brought to book, whoever they may be, soon....the pessimism creeps in because I can only hope for this...don't know whether/how it will actually happen...really hope for Satyamev Jayate!